SC Freiburg vs Borussia Dortmund – Match Summary
Borussia Dortmund were forced to settle for a 1–1 draw against SC Freiburg at the Europa-Park Stadion after playing nearly the entire second half with ten men. Ramy Bensebaini gave the visitors the lead in the first half with a well-taken goal, but the game turned on its head in the 53rd minute when young midfielder Jobe Bellingham was shown a straight red card for a professional foul. Freiburg capitalized on the numerical advantage, leveling through a spectacular bicycle kick from Lucas Höler in the 75th minute. Despite late pressure from the hosts, Dortmund held on to preserve a point, extending their unbeaten run in the league.
SC Freiburg vs Borussia Dortmund – Final Score
SC Freiburg 1–1 Borussia Dortmund
(HT: 0–1)
Goals:
- 31’ — Ramy Bensebaini (DOR)
- 75’ — Lucas Höler (FRE)
SC Freiburg vs Borussia Dortmund – Timeline & Events
- 31’ — ⚽ GOAL! Yan Couto swings in a dangerous free-kick which the Freiburg defense fails to clear. Ramy Bensebaini reacts quickest to poke the ball home from close range. (0–1)
- 42’ — 🚧 WOODWORK: Carney Chukwuemeka strikes the post for Dortmund, nearly doubling the lead before the break.
- 53’ — 🟥 RED CARD: Disaster for Dortmund! Gregor Kobel plays a risky pass to Jobe Bellingham, who is robbed of possession by Philipp Treu. Bellingham pulls Treu down as the last man and receives a straight red card.
- 75’ — ⚽ GOAL! A contender for Goal of the Season! Christian Günter delivers a cross from the left, and Lucas Höler produces a stunning bicycle kick to level the scores. (1–1)
- 88’ — ❌ VAR DECISION: Freiburg think they have won it through Igor Matanovic, but the goal is ruled out for offside against Maximilian Eggestein after a video review.
- 90+7’ — 🏁 FULL TIME: The referee blows the final whistle. Dortmund survive the onslaught to take a point.
First Half Analysis
Dortmund started the match with authority, looking to bounce back from their midweek Champions League draw. Their 3-4-2-1 formation allowed them to control the midfield, with Yan Couto offering a constant threat down the right. The breakthrough came just after the half-hour mark through Bensebaini, and they were unlucky not to be 2-0 up when Chukwuemeka hit the woodwork. Freiburg struggled to create clear openings, managing only sporadic counters.
Second Half Analysis
The momentum shifted immediately after the restart with Jobe Bellingham’s dismissal. Down to ten men, Dortmund retreated into a low block (5-3-1), surrendering possession to survive the Freiburg wave. The hosts bossed proceedings, firing in 21 shots by the end of the game. Their persistence paid off with Höler’s wonder goal. The final stages were a desperate rearguard action for Dortmund, who were saved by VAR late on.
xG Reality Check: SC Freiburg 1.51 | Borussia Dortmund 0.93
Key Match Factors
- The Red Card: Jobe Bellingham’s error and subsequent expulsion completely altered the game, shifting the xG dominance from Dortmund to Freiburg.
- Kobel’s Distribution: The Dortmund goalkeeper was partly at fault for the red card, playing a “hospital pass” to Bellingham that put him under immediate pressure.
- Freiburg’s Aerial Threat: After the red card, Freiburg flooded the box with crosses (over 25 attempted), eventually scoring from one via Günter’s delivery.
- Defensive Resilience: Despite the pressure, Dortmund’s backline (Schlotterbeck and Anton) made numerous blocks to deny Freiburg a winner.
Player of the Match
🏆 Lucas Höler (SC Freiburg)
Scored a sensational bicycle kick to rescue a point for his team and was a constant physical presence in the box, winning crucial aerial duels.
SC Freiburg vs Borussia Dortmund – Player Ratings
| SC Freiburg | Rating | Borussia Dortmund | Rating |
| Atubolu | 6.5 | Kobel | 6.0 |
| Kübler | 7.0 | Anton | 7.1 |
| Ginter | 6.8 | Schlotterbeck | 7.3 |
| Jung | 6.5 | Bensebaini | 7.5 |
| Günter | 7.2 | Couto | 7.0 |
| Eggestein | 6.5 | Bellingham | 3.0 |
| Osterhage | 6.5 | Nmecha | 6.8 |
| Suzuki | 6.0 | Ryerson | 6.5 |
| Manzambi | 6.8 | Chukwuemeka | 6.5 |
| Treu | 6.5 | F. Silva | 6.0 |
| Höler (MOTM) | 8.0 | Guirassy | 6.9 |
SC Freiburg vs Borussia Dortmund – Match Stats
| Stat | SC Freiburg | Borussia Dortmund |
| Expected Goals (xG) | 1.51 | 0.93 |
| Possession | 62% | 38% |
| Total Shots | 21 | 9 |
| Shots on Target | 6 | 4 |
| Big Chances | 3 | 2 |
| Corners | 8 | 3 |
| Passes (Accuracy) | 512 (86%) | 310 (78%) |
| Fouls | 10 | 9 |
| Yellow Cards | 2 | 2 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 1 |
Top 5 Performers
- Lucas Höler (FRE): The hero for Freiburg with a world-class finish.
- Ramy Bensebaini (DOR): Scored the opener and defended heroically after the red card.
- Nico Schlotterbeck (DOR): Marshaled the defense superbly under immense pressure against his former club.
- Christian Günter (FRE): A constant outlet on the left, providing the assist for the equalizer.
- Yan Couto (DOR): Created the first goal and was Dortmund’s most dangerous outlet before the red card forced him back.
Underperformers / Weak Links
- Jobe Bellingham (DOR): A moment of madness and a poor touch cost his team the win.
- Gregor Kobel (DOR): His decision-making on the pass to Bellingham put his teammate in an impossible situation.
Substitutions Impact
- Maximilian Philipp (FRE): Came on to add attacking impetus as Freiburg chased the game. (Rating: 6.5)
- Marcel Sabitzer (DOR): Introduced to stabilize the midfield after the red card but struggled to get on the ball. (Rating: 6.0)
- Jamie Gittens (DOR): Offered pace on the counter late on but was isolated. (Rating: N/A)
Tactical Breakdown
- SC Freiburg:
- Wide Overloads: Utilized Günter and Kübler high up the pitch to stretch Dortmund’s 10 men.
- High Press: Philipp Treu’s pressing directly led to the red card, forcing the error high up the pitch.
- Borussia Dortmund:
- Game Management: Switched to a 5-3-1 deep block after the 53rd minute, sacrificing all attacking intent to protect the point.
- Set Pieces: Scored from a set-piece situation, highlighting their reliance on dead-ball efficiency in tight games.
What This Result Means
- SC Freiburg: Remain in 9th place (17 pts), continuing their steady mid-table campaign.
- Borussia Dortmund: Stay in 3rd place (29 pts), missing the chance to leapfrog RB Leipzig but maintaining a gap over 4th place.
SC Freiburg vs Borussia Dortmund – FAQs
Q: Who won the Freiburg vs Dortmund match?
A: The match ended in a 1–1 draw.
Q: Who scored the goals?
A: Ramy Bensebaini scored for Dortmund; Lucas Höler scored for Freiburg.
Q: Why was Jobe Bellingham sent off?
A: He received a straight red card in the 53rd minute for a last-man foul on Philipp Treu.
Q: What was the xG for the match?
A: Freiburg 1.51 – 0.93 Dortmund.
Call to Action — SportsphereArena Community
Do you blame Gregor Kobel or Jobe Bellingham for the red card incident?
Let us know in the comments below!
